[theme-reviewers] GPL

[Daniel Tara]

Not exactly. Since the PHP functions you are using is derivative from WordPress itself and also because most themes fork at least portions of code from other themes, the license under which this code must be licensed is GPL.
Parts of your theme like HTML code, scripts, stylesheets or even PHP code that has not been forked can be licensed under any compatible license including open source, but the code that is derivative must be licensed under the same license as its legacy product.
I studied this because at one point I also thought about releasing my themes under more liberal licenses but realized this causes conflicts with legacy code.

Daniel

On Aug 9, 2012, at 7:12 PM, Bryan Hadaway wrote:

> Interesting. Do you know of any other themes/plugins that have done this? Any downsides (in your opinion)? I use Public Domain for everything I do except WP, because it's way easier and friendlier than the GPL, you can't get friendlier than Public Domain, but I'd always assumed you had to use GPL, mandatory, only reason I ever used it.
> 
> But, if you just need to be GPL-compatible there are probably hundreds of things you could do, including writing your own license so long as it stays GPL-compatible. To me Public Domain is beautiful, simply put it's "Here you go, I made this, do what you want with it. THE END" - It seems like the purest form of sharing there is.
> 
> I guess my concern is this, why aren't more people doing it? Why is everyone so stressed over the GPL if they can just release their work with no license. Are they just not aware or is there a side to this I'm missing?
> 
> Thanks, Bryan
> 
> 
> Bryan Phillip Hadaway
> 
> Web & Graphic Designer
> calmestghost.com
> bhadaway at gmail.com
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 10:05 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 10:04 PM, Bryan Hadaway <bhadaway at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I had a GPL question I personally never saw discussed before if anyone knows
> > the answer. Is declaring Public Domain or No License (meaning there are no
> > restrictions whatsoever) compatible with GPL?
> 
> Yes. With any version. You may consider this answer as definitive on
> the subject.
> 
> -Otto
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